Folding box



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 luv NTQR Wuwa 6. Anne 9.50m}! BY I Q7 ATTORNEYS w. e. ANDERSON, JR

FOLDING BOX May 19, 1953 Fll d Oct 31 1949 Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-l cs Wilbur G. Anderson, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to American Box Board Company, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application October 31, 1949, Serial. No. 124,599

7 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a folding box which is made, preferably, from a light Weight corrugated paper board. The box at the factory is made by simply striking out blanks, one for each box, the blanks following consecutively one after the other with a minimum of waste material. Such blanks are shipped to their destination flat against each other in any desired number. Each blank, when it is to be used, is very quickly and readily folded along lines of folding provided for such purpose, and when the folding is complete the box is closed at all sides.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a novel box structure and a blank therefor of novel form which is economical to produce and which, when closed is held and retained in closed position and with the contents of the box protected at all sides, with an insurance that the box will not open.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a box blank made in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the blank in the process of being folded into a box,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the completed box,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the blank in process of being folded in a, different manner from that shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box completely formed as folded in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

In the structure of the blank, as shown in Fig. 1, an intermediate rectangular section I which may be termed the bottom of the box, at opposed ends has oppositely extending flaps 2 there being a line of folding between them and the ends of the bottom I. From the opposed side edges of the bottom I integral rectangular sections 3 extend in opposite directions there being folding lines between them and the bottom section I. From one end of each of the sections 3, which in practice are turned at right angles to the bottom I to provide vertical sides of the box, rectangular sections 4 extend each terminating in a narrow flap 5, the lines of folding for said sections 4 and for said flaps 5 with respect to their associated sections 4 being shown in dash lines, the same as the other folding lines. The sections 5 are shown as extending from opposite ends of the respective side sections 3,-though as far as completing the box is concerned, sections 4-, may be extended from the same end of the sections-3. The structure described however is preferable, as cutting the blanks one after another may be made from a sheet of box board material which is moved between the dies and punches for cutting the blanks in the direction of the length of said aligned sections 3 and 4 with a maximum elimination of waste.

At the outer edge of one Of said side sections 3, a rectangular top section 6 extends and is integrally connected, at each end having a flap '5 similar to the fiap 2 on the bottom I. The folding lines betweenthe top section 6 and the flaps I are pierced at the places shown to provide narrow slots 8. At the outer end of the other side section 3 a section 3, relatively narrow in width, is integrally connected and extends therefrom in the same plane, which at each end at its outer portion is provided with a tongue III of a width to pass through a slot 8.

In folding this blank to box form, the bottom I on a horizontal table, bench or other support, occupies a horizontal position. The flaps 2 are turned upwardly (Fig. 2). The sides 3 are turned upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 and the top 6 with the flaps 1 extending outwardly in the same plane therewith is turned to horizontal position over and spaced from the bottom I. The narrow section 9 is then turned about its line of folding with respect to the other side 3 and the tongues It turned downwardly to pass through the slots 8.

When this has been accomplished, the two flaps l, which have occupied a horizontal position while the tongues II] have been inserted through the slots 8, are folded downwardly against the flaps 2. Such downward folding results in a gripping action against the tongues ID by reason of the narrowing of the slots 8 because of such folding. The two end sections 4 may then be turned to cover the flaps l and 2, and the tongues 5 inserted between the adjacent ends of the sections 3 and the adjacent edges of the flaps 2 and I.

This closes the box. For the placing of materials in the box which it is to contain, one of the ends 4 may be left in open position and the flaps 2 and 1 associated therewith opened for reception of whatever is to be put within the box. After it is filled, such flaps 2 and 'I are folded inwardly and covered by the end 4 as described. That is, in assembling the box, the section I is the bottom of the box, but in filling the box one of the sections 4 which has been moved to its folded closed position serves as the bottom of the box a 3 and the opposite end of the box is open to receive its contents. The tongues ID are securely gripped against disconnection. The tongues 5 are frictionally held in place.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the identical blank of Fig. 1 folded in a different manner than heretofore described and shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this style the blank is first formed as shown in Fig. 4 with the narrow sections 9 lying under the top section 6 and with the tongues 10 bent upwardly and extending through the slots 8. In this form, as in Fig. 2, with the flaps 1 in the same plane as the top section 6, the slots 8 are wide open.

Next the flaps I are folded downwardly and the flaps 2 are folded upwardly overlapping the lower portions of the flaps 7. Then the tongues I are bent downwardly against the outer sides of the flaps 1 and the sections 4 are folded outside of and against the flaps 1 and 2 and also overlapping the downturned tongues l0 and the flaps are inserted between the vertical edges of the flaps 2 and 1 and the side sections 3.

In this manner of forming, the narrow section 9 is concealed within the box and gives support to the top sections 6 and the tongues [0 are securely held in place between the sections 4 and the end flaps I.

The structure described is particualrly economical to produce. All that is required is to run a continuous length of the stock from which the box is made through the cutting machine therefor, which cuts the blanks rapidly one after the other, and delivers them one after the other for stacking ready to be secured together in any required numbers in packages which need nothing more except the attachment of a shipping label for delivery. Waste of material is at a minimum. The projecting end portions of one section 4 and its flap 5 is taken from the material which, in the sheet of material from which the blanks are made is between flaps 2 and I at the opposite side of the preceding blank, and similarly the other projecting end of the section 4 and its flap 5 occupies the recessed portion of the next succeeding blank at the opposite end of the section 3 and at the edge of the adjacent flap 2. Substantially the only waste material is that which extends outwardly from the ends of the narrow section 9 and the tongues In to the outer ends of the flaps 5.

As previously mentioned, instead of the end sections 4 being opposite to each other, so far as the complete box is concerned, such sections 4 may extend both from the same end of their respective sections 3. The invention contemplates such form of structure. The claim appended hereto defines the invention which is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within its scope.

I claim:

A box having a bottom, two spaced vertical sides integrally connected thereto, a top connected at one edge to the upper edge of one of said sides, other flaps, one at each end of the top extending downwardly therefrom, said top at each end thereof at the connection of said fiaps thereto having slots therethrough, a member connected to the other of said sides and extending under said top and at each end having a tongue passing upwardly through said slots and thence bent downward outside of said other flaps, and two ends each connected to the vertical edge of a side and extending outside of said other flaps and tongues.

WILBUR G. ANDERSON, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent Miessler May 31, 

